RSS Feedhttp://10.40.239.129/blogs/rss-feed/Blog RSS Feeden{9DD846D4-23ED-4E2F-A6CA-3D7C31D0A6B2}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/the-secret-sauce-to-living-well/The Secret Sauce to Living Well<p>What are the secrets that can help me lose weight and keep exercising and do all the things I need to do to be healthy? Her answer is: There is no secret sauce &mdash; you just have to work at it. But there are eight tips that can help you be much more effective in your efforts. Here&rsquo;s the secret sauce that can enhance your journey to LiVing Well: </p>
<ol>
<li>Focus on your overall well-being, not just your physical health. Working to improve your &ldquo;well-being,&rdquo; which includes how you feel day-to-day emotionally and physically, is more effective than just trying to lose weight or reach another physical goal. If you focus on any component of well-being &mdash; such as improving your relationships or managing your financial worries &mdash; you&rsquo;ll improve your entire life, including your physical health.</li>
<li>LiVing Well is a journey, not an event. The world is constantly marketing instant, do-this-and-you&rsquo;ll-be-healthy ideas, but in reality, you&rsquo;ve got to invest continuous effort over time if you really want to improve your health and your life. You can&rsquo;t expect sudden and miraculous results. But if you just keep plugging along, you&rsquo;ll get where you want to be.</li>
<li>You&rsquo;re your own best expert on how to change. You know what you can and can&rsquo;t do. Once you get advice or information about how to LiVe Well, you know better than anyone else how to implement it. Essentially you need to write your own self-help book about what helps you LiVe Well. Figuring out what works for you will help you make the changes you want to make.</li>
<li>Know when you&rsquo;re ready to change. The fact that a doctor says you need to make changes &mdash; or because the new year began on January 1 &mdash; isn&rsquo;t going to motivate you. For example, my dentist told me I ought to floss. But I walked out and thought: That&rsquo;s not going to happen.&rdquo; Motivation that comes from within is more effective long-term strategy. I&rsquo;ll floss when I&rsquo;m ready to start flossing, not when my dentist says I should. So to help you live healthier, identify the personal reasons why you want to change, and keep them at the forefront of your mind.</li>
<li>Take small, easy, specific steps that move you toward your bigger goal &mdash; and do them frequently. Don&rsquo;t say &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to solve my financial problems&rsquo; or &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to improve my relationships. Do say: &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to save $10, and I&rsquo;m going to call my mom.&rsquo; Then adopt a reasonable schedule that helps you follow up frequently. You could say: I&rsquo;m going to save $10 from each paycheck and I&rsquo;m going to call my mom on Sundays. Those are the kind of steps that can grow into habits.</li>
<li>Use prompts. They work! Our lives are built around prompts. We have lots of them because they really work. The prompts that help you live healthier should be things you do already that are part of your regular day. For example, instead of saying: I&rsquo;ll reduce my stress by stretching my neck, shoulders, and hamstrings, say this: After I eat lunch when I&rsquo;m at work, I&rsquo;ll stand and stretch my neck, shoulders, and hamstrings.</li>
<li>Use short testing periods with start and end dates. Experiments require start dates and end dates. That helps make your goal measurable and attainable &mdash; and more motivating. For example, you could say, After I eat lunch at work, I&rsquo;ll stand and stretch my neck, shoulders, and hamstrings, and I&rsquo;ll do it for two weeks, then I&rsquo;ll evaluate to see how it benefits me and how practical it is.</li>
<li>You can&rsquo;t fail as long as you learn from what you do. After your experiment with your new behaviors, ask yourself: What did this teach me about myself? You may find it really worked for you and you want to keep doing it &mdash; or you may love it, but need a better prompt. Or you may say: Nope &mdash; this isn&rsquo;t going to work for me right now. The key is, you can&rsquo;t fail as long as you&rsquo;re learning what works and doesn&rsquo;t work for you. So keep trying &mdash; and keep learning. </li>
</ol>
<p>More information about Living Well can be found on <a target="_blank" href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well">Intermountain's LiVe Well website</a> or get a weekly dose of live well by <a target="_blank" href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/LiveWell/About/LiVe%20Well%20Signup">subscribing now</a>.</p>Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{D3B1E38A-F8E7-48BF-AC6F-4356FE99C595}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/cholesterol-101-why-knowing-your-cholesterol-numbers-may-save-your-life/Cholesterol 101: Why knowing your cholesterol numbers may save your lifeThere are two types of cholesterol in the body: good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). A lot of people are aware of this, but what you may not know is that understanding your levels of cholesterol in your body may be a matter of life and death.&nbsp;
<div><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"><br />
</span></div>
<div><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance produced by the liver and found in the bloodstream. Cholesterol is important to the body; it&rsquo;s used for producing cell membranes and hormones to helping the body digest fat. However, knowing the difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol, and knowing your cholesterol levels, can help you stay healthy.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div><br />
<p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">A diet too high in saturated and trans fats increases the liver&rsquo;s production of cholesterol. The excess cholesterol starts building up in the artery walls and makes it harder for the heart to circulate blood throughout your body.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">&ldquo;Just a little cholesterol build-up, less than a quarter of a teaspoon, in the wrong spot in the arteries of the heart can kill you," says Brent Muhlestein, MD, co-director of cardiology research for Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah. &ldquo;For this reason it&rsquo;s important to know your good and bad cholesterol numbers before an emergency strikes.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">The American Heart Association recommends all adults age 20 or older have their cholesterol levels checked every four to six years. People with a family history of heart disease or who have taken the test before and had high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol need to be tested once a year. Based on the results of the test, which is called a lipid profile, you and your doctor can figure out best way to lower your risk of heart disease. Your lipid profile will identify the different types of cholesterol found in your body.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">"When checking the report, you&rsquo;ll want to look for an LDL or bad cholesterol level of less than 100 and HDL or good cholesterol of more than 45," says Dr. Muhlestein. &ldquo;If you're overweight, your LDL is going to be higher. If you're diabetic it&rsquo;s going to be higher and you&rsquo;ll have an even lower HDL if you have high blood pressure that increases the adverse affects of the cholesterol you already have.&rdquo;&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Dr. Muhlestein advises that you check with your doctor if your cholesterol levels are too far from recommended levels.</span></p>
</div>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{BC91BC29-972B-44D5-896F-C34D0E203C98}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/know-the-air-quality-index-and-how-to-use-it/Know the Air Quality Index and How to Use ItAir Quality is an important factor in our health. Intermountain Healthcare has a team of clinicians working together to formulate air quality and health education materials for physicians, patients, and employees. These materials utilize the Air Quality Index (AQI) to help explain how to plan activities around air quality and help us live the healthiest lives possible. The AQI gives all of us a standard measurement to gauge the quality of the air we breathe. Learning to read and interpret the AQI is the first step in engaging with our health and air quality.
<p>Dr. Jason Hamula MD, shared how he uses the AQI both professionally and personally. Dr. Hamula bikes to work most days and checks the AQI on his phone several times a day during inversions to determine the best time of day&mdash;meaning times when the AQI is lowest&mdash;for his commute. </p>
<p>The AQI goes up and down during the day, making it a great tool for planning your day&rsquo;s activities. But, Dr. Hamula also uses the AQI with patients in his practice at the Salt Lake Clinic. From that information he can usually predict when he&rsquo;ll see more patients with respiratory diseases, as they tend to be susceptible when the AQI is high. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s also an important piece of patient education for these patients and others, so I Increasingly have conversations with patients about how on the worst days&mdash;when the AQI is highest&mdash;they might need to limit their outdoor activity.&rdquo;</p>
<p>In order to protect themselves patients need to understand what the AQI is and how to read it, so Dr. Hamula shares with them what he&rsquo;s learned. &ldquo;In a sense, the AQI is much like the pollen count that allergy sufferers follow &ndash; it&rsquo;s one more thing in the air that many of us need to be more aware of.&rdquo; </p>
<p><strong>What is the Air Quality Index?</strong></p>
<p>The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a national system used to measure and report air quality. Managed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the AQI looks for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: particle pollution, ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The EPA takes daily readings of these pollutants and interprets it into a specific number ranging from zero to 500 and a specific color.</p>
<p>Of the pollutants they track, ground-level ozone and airborne particles (or particulate matter) are the most harmful to us. Ground-level ozone forms when polluted air comes in contact with heat and sunlight. This is common in the summer months and late in the day. </p>
<p>Particulate matter is tiny particles in the air, like dirt, dust, smoke, and soot, which is reported as either PM 2.5 or PM 10. PM 2.5 particles are very tiny. These particles can get deep into your lungs and cause inflammation and labored breathing. PM 10 particles, like pollen, mold, and dust, are slightly bigger. In Utah, particulate matter pollution is more common and problematic in the winter months. </p>
<p><strong>How to Make Sense of It</strong></p>
<p>All of this may sound complicated, but when broken down it really is quite simple. Basically, when the air quality is good the AQI is low (zero-50) and the color associated with it is green. As the air quality gets worse the number gets higher and the color associated with it becomes a darker shade of red. You can check the AQI level through the national air quality website, <a href="http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main" target="_blank">AirNow</a>, and the <a href="http://air.utah.gov/" target="_blank">Utah Department of Environmental Quality website</a>. Local radio and TV stations often broadcast the air quality reading as well. Here is an <a href="http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi" target="_blank">Air Quality Index chart</a> that can help you understand the air quality reports in your area:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/~/media/Images/Air_Quality_Index.png?h=368&amp;w=500" alt="Air_Quality_Index" style="height: 368px; width: 500px;" />&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Safety Tips for Poor Air Quality Days</strong></p>
<p>Poor air quality is connected with many health problems including cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems like asthma, allergies, pneumonia, and bronchitis. On days where the AQI level is 51 (yellow) or higher, you should be taking steps to limit your exposure. Here are some safety tips you can follow to stay healthy:&nbsp; </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Pay attention to the Air Quality Index: </strong>Find out what the air quality is like in your area before you plan your day. You won&rsquo;t want to go for a long run on a &ldquo;red&rdquo; day!</li>
<li><strong>Minimize your exposure:</strong> Avoid exposure to outdoor air in more polluted places, such as high-traffic, industrial areas. </li>
<li><strong>Go to a higher altitude:</strong> Get above the pollution by visiting Utah&rsquo;s nearby canyons. </li>
<li><strong>Stay indoors: </strong>Your air conditioning and heating units do more than just regulate the temperature in your home. They filter out harmful particles that you would otherwise breathe outdoors. Try exercising indoors on poor air quality days so that you can benefit from this filtered, safer air. &nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Limit emissions:</strong> Do your part to improve long-term air quality by reducing emissions. Whenever possible, use public transportation or carpool with your family and friends. Also, drive slower on the freeways to increase your vehicle&rsquo;s efficiency. </li>
<li><strong>Take medications as directed:</strong> If you have a health condition that is aggravated by air pollution, create an air quality action plan with your care provider. Take your medications as directed and make sure you know what to do in case of an emergency. Never increase dosages on your own.</li>
</ul>
<p>For more information about the Air Quality Index and local air quality reports, visit <a href="http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.main" target="_blank">airnow.gov</a> or <a href="http://www.airquality.utah.gov/" target="_blank">airquality.utah.gov</a>. </p>
<p><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=526829751" target="_blank">http://intermountainhealthcare.org/ext/Dcmnt?ncid=526829751</a> </p>Thu, 19 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{C6B9F8DD-CF4D-41BB-B921-39C5DC762B54}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/intermountain-foundry-rewards-employee-innovation-at-inaugural-event/Intermountain Foundry Rewards Employee Innovation at Inaugural Event<p>Last month, a bevy of executives, physicians, clinicians, and members of the community gathered for an inaugural Innovation and Growth Event. This event introduced the first four projects to complete an eight-week program through the Intermountain Foundry designed to support employees&rsquo; ideas for improving the quality of care while reducing costs.</p>
<p>Healthbox&mdash;Intermountain&rsquo;s partner in the Foundry&mdash;hosted the event. The Foundry process began with 40 applications that were reviewed for strategic fit, business need, and market opportunity. In a world in which an estimated 8 out of 10 businesses fail, aligning new ideas with good strategy makes them that much more likely to succeed. </p>
<p>In a format similar to the television show <em>Shark Tank,</em> each project was presented before a panel of four experts in business, administration, medicine, and information technology. </p>
<p><strong>The four &ldquo;companies&rdquo; presented were: </strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Wailua Magnetics: Dr. John Doty, MD presented a more effective and less expensive tool and care process for ablation, a technique used to treat atrial fibrillation. </li>
<li>GermWatch: Dr. Per Gesteland, MD, MSc gave details about future plans and expansion of GermWatch, a software tool that allows physicians, clinicians, and the community to track which infectious &ldquo;bugs&rdquo; are prevalent in their localities. </li>
<li>SmartPX: Dr. Benjamin Horne, PhD shared his project, SmartPX (short for smart prognosis), a predictive analytics score used to reduce readmission rates for patients with heart failure. </li>
<li>Micro Environ: Last, Pravin Mishra, PhD and Lincoln Naduald, MD, PhD spoke about a method for improving cancer cell studies through a new culture medium called ME-gel, which differs from traditional media because it is based on human cells rather than the cells of mice. </li>
</ul>
<p>Along with these innovators, more than 50 other Intermountain employees were involved and dedicated to refining and rapidly testing these new products and ideas. &ldquo;The Foundry is a great example of how Intermountain&rsquo;s various Innovation and Growth programs, including the Transformation Lab, The Homer Warner Center for Informatics Research, Business Development, and others can work together to make great things happen,&rdquo; said George Hamilton, Vice President, Business Development. The event concluded with a spontaneously composed ballad (accompanied by ukulele) that outlined the highlights of each project and a chance to view conference posters and demos of the projects.</p>
<p>--</p>
<p><strong>Innovation and Growth at Intermountain Healthcare</strong> supports the ideation, creation, and adoption of new solutions that will improve quality and service while making care more affordable. We harness internal creativity and external disruption to continually improve outcomes, longevity, and overall wellbeing.</p>
Intermountain partnered with Healthbox to bring its employees the Intermountain Foundry, one of the many avenues supporting employee innovation at Intermountain Healthcare. Through a structured eight-week process, employee innovators are supported to refine their business concept, assess the commercial viability, identify product development or service needs, and develop a plan to scale internally within Intermountain or beyond in the broader healthcare industry. The application process is open and Intermountain employees can submit ideas at: <a target="_blank" href="http://innovationatintermountain.com">http://innovationatintermountain.com</a>.Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{7A924461-B08E-4A25-BCF5-41D755D79DE4}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/achieving-a-heart-healthy-diet/Achieving a Heart-Healthy DietWhen I started my career as a dietitian more than thirty years ago, most of the focus was on the &ldquo;don&rsquo;ts.&rdquo; &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t eat too much fat, sugar, red meat, etc.&rdquo; I spent a lot of time and energy telling people what to avoid when they ate. Over the years we have not only found out that many of those <span style="text-decoration: underline;">DON&rsquo;T&rsquo;S</span> were incorrect but that when you focus on what not to eat people still don&rsquo;t know what they should be eating.
<p >We&rsquo;ve learned that a better approach is to educate people about the types and portions of food they <em>should </em>be eating. This positive focus has not only been more successful in helping people to eat a healthy diet but the research is showing that it is actually a better way to prevent chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, etc.)
</p>
<div style="position:relative; display:block; height:0; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8V4MaebKDEc&feature=youtu.be" style="position:absolute; top:0; bottom:0; left:0; width:100%; height:100%; border:none;" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>I love helping people to begin living a heart-healthy diet. I think almost everyone <em>wants</em> to eat well. Often they just don&rsquo;t know where to start, or they may think it&rsquo;s too expensive or too time-consuming to enjoy a healthy diet. </p>
<p>Here&rsquo;s what I tell someone when they express an interest in eating heart-healthy. </p>
<ul>
<li>Half of your plate should be fruits and vegetables. All fruits and vegetables are good for you. So &frac12; the plate &ndash; fruits and veggies. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The other half of the plate should be divided between protein and whole grain with 2/3 of your plate containing something wholegrain. Be sure and check food labels on this one &ndash; there are a lot of products that may say &ldquo;Made with whole grain&rdquo; but in fact have more white processed flour than whole grains. Avoid those. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The leftover portion of your plate should be a healthy protein of some kind, such as nuts or seeds, natural peanut butter, beans or fish. </li>
</ul>
<p>If you need to use a fat of some kind, consider using extra virgin olive oil or other less-refined plant oils.</p>
<p>Along with this heart-healthy approach to eating, also work toward 30 minutes a day of some kind of physical activity &ndash; something that is vigorous enough to make you sweat. </p>
<p>Last but not least, determine what a healthy weight would be and work toward achieving that goal. Be sure you talk to your health care providers about the changes you are making, and ask them for suggestions on how to stay safe.</p>
<p>Living a heart-healthy lifestyle is something anyone can achieve. Like most important life changes we make, getting started is the hardest part. But you can do it. Your heart will thank you for trying. </p>Wed, 18 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{82AA4D8F-1DBD-4383-827E-6E404B08D4AC}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/partners-in-crime-and-in-fitness/Partners in Crime and in Fitness<p>Does this experience sound familiar? You want to get healthy and get moving so you set a great fitness goal for yourself. You are completely committed for a week or two. You hit week three and feel a little less motivated, but you keep slowly working toward your goal. A few weeks later your enthusiasm for your fitness goal is minimal, and you stop working on it all together. You are on to new things. </p>
<p>This experience is common, especially at the beginning of a new year when we are all setting lofty goals. We all want to make positive changes and maintain a healthier lifestyle, but in practice it seems much harder to do alone than we originally thought. But don&rsquo;t be discouraged, you may be forgetting to include your best ally in the process: your partner. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/288228.php">Researchers at University College London</a> found that you are more likely to meet success with your fitness, weight loss, and habit-breaking goals (like quitting smoking) if your partner shares your goal too. </p>
<p>The team studied the behaviors of nearly 4,000 married and cohabiting middle-aged couples over a four-year period. They found that when one person in the couple made a healthy lifestyle change, the other person was more likely to adopt the change as well. For example, when they looked at changes in physical activity they saw that &ldquo;66% of physically inactive women and 67% of physically inactive men successfully increased physical activity when their partner was doing the same.&rdquo;</p>
<p>The extra support of a partner, be it your spouse, significant other, family member, or close friend, really makes a difference. When you set your fitness goals together, you can motivate each other and have a lot of fun too. Here are some ideas to get you started: </p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Try a sport or activity that requires two people:</strong> Head outside or to a climbing gym for an evening of rock climbing and repealing, enroll in a latin or ballroom dance class, or try tennis or racquetball.</li>
<li><strong>Start a tradition of evening walks:</strong> Instead of unwinding at home after a long day, head outside with your partner for evening walks. You will be exercising as well as strengthening your relationship. </li>
<li><strong>Have fun, small competitions: </strong>Make exercising with you partner a game. Try seeing who can run a sprint faster or make the most baskets in a row on the basketball court. Remember though not to get so competitive that it strains your relationship. </li>
<li>I<strong>Introduce new activities to your partner:</strong> Are there some activities you always wanted to try but didn&rsquo;t want to do them alone? Now is your chance! Invite your partner to join a Zumba class with you or sign up for a fun 5K race for charity together. </li>
</ul>
<p>Explore our <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/live-well/move-well">LiVe Well website</a> for more fun ideas that you can do with a partner. Remember, it is important to not only plan <em>what</em> you are going to do together but also <em>when</em> you will do it. Set up a schedule or make dates in advance so that you know what is in store. </p>
<p>By including someone who you already enjoy spending time with, you are making your fitness goals that much easier to reach. That extra support can make all the difference. </p>Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{1907D400-C70D-4BA6-9C1A-3BDF51BC90D8}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/heart-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate/Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate<p class="p1">What is it about dark chocolate that makes it so heart healthy? "There is a lot of science behind the cocoa bean and a substance called flavanol," explained Jared Bunch, MD, electrophysiologist with the <a href="http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/imed/services/heart-institute/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute</a>. "Flavanol is also in things we look at as healthy, like grapes, apples, blackberries and legumes and has been extensively studied regarding its heart-related benefits."</p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;"><a href="http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/jared-bunch-rhythm-of-life/dark-chocolate-for-stress-relief-and-heart-health/" target="_blank">Research has shown</a> that consuming four to eight ounces of 75% dark chocolate per day can be good for your heart.&nbsp;But what are the specific benefits of consuming flavanols?&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Helps How We Respond to Stress<br />
</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">When people get stressed, the body responds by releasing chemicals into the blood stream (cortisol, epinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and norepinephrine) that raises the blood pressure. Dark chocolate has been shown to reduce the levels of cortisol and epinephrine.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Lower Blood Pressure<br />
</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Studies show that consumption of cocoa increases nitric oxide, which is a naturally occurring chemical in our body that prompts the blood vessels to dilate. This simple process lowers blood pressure.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Lowers Bad Cholesterol<br />
</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">There are two types of cholesterol - HDL (good) and LDL (bad). Flavanols reduce LDL cholesterol and can increase HDL cholesterol and since dark chocolate is high in flavanols, consuming the treat can also lower your cholesterol.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong style="line-height: 1.4em;">Helps Stability of Injured Vessels<br />
</strong><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Cocoa may help stabilize blood vessels that have been injured by plaque build up over time, thus reducing the likelihood of blood clots forming that could cause a heart attack or stroke.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.4em;">Dr. Bunch discussed the <a href="http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/benefits-of-dark-chocolate-on-your-heart/70553/Au1GgkvswkmVoEQT-bnraw" target="_blank">benefits of dark chocolate</a> with ABC4's Nadia Crow.</span></p>Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{03E4EA07-01BD-401C-BC31-D80C52F4B1E6}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/know-lung-cancer-get-screened/Know Lung Cancer: Get ScreenedIn the general population, about 90% of people with lung cancer die from the disease. This high number is, in part, because lung cancer often isn&rsquo;t caught until symptoms appear. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer has usually spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Lung cancer screening is a quick and painless way to catch cancer early. Screening helps doctors find small tumors or nodules (masses of extra cells) in the lungs before they grow or spread to other parts of the body. Finding cancer early means it is easier to treat, and the chances of cure improve greatly.<br />
<br />
During the screen, a low-dose CT (computed tomography) scanner captures images of your lungs using a rotating x-ray. A radiologist then looks at the images for anything abnormal.<br />
<br />
<strong>Who should be screened?</strong><br />
Screening is recommended for anyone at high risk for lung cancer. High risk is defined as:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">Anyone age 55 to 80 with a history of 30 &ldquo;pack years&rdquo; or more (who still smokes or who quit within the last 15 years). (30 &ldquo;pack years&rdquo;&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">means 30 years of smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. 15 years of 2 packs a day also equals 30 pack years.)</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">People with a smoking history of 20 &ldquo;pack years&rdquo; or more and with other risk factors. (Risk factors can include personal or family history of lung cancer, exposure to radon, and several occupational risk factors &mdash; talk to your doctor to learn more.)</span></li>
</ul>
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer. Smoking causes about 85 percent of lung cancers. The more you smoke, the higher the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk goes down if you quit. The risk also increases with age &mdash; most lung cancers occur in people age 55 or older.<br />
<br />
If you&rsquo;re not sure whether you should be screened, talk to your doctor. Your risk factors, medical history, personal beliefs, and other factors are an important part of making this decision.
<div><br />
<p><strong>Here's a news story about lung cancer from ABC4 Utah.</strong></p>
<div style="position: relative; display: block; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Zyfuwln3XHs" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><strong>How often should I be screened?</strong><br />
People who are considered high risk should be screened once a year. If you turn 80, have quit smoking for more than 15 years, or cannot tolerate surgery to remove lung cancer if it is found, then screening is no longer recommended.<br />
<br />
<strong>I meet the criteria. Why should I be screened?</strong><br />
Screening gives you a chance to catch cancer early. If it&rsquo;s caught early, experts estimate that up to 80% of lung cancer could be cured. Catching the cancer early means that the tumors can be removed before they spread to other parts of the body. Screening sometimes finds other problems. Treating these problems can also improve your health. Lung cancer screening requires a CT scan. A CT scanner takes images of your lungs in &ldquo;slices&rdquo; so that doctors can see anything abnormal. In the image<br />
above, the arrow points to the abnormal growth.<br />
<br />
<strong>What happens during the screening?</strong><br />
You&rsquo;ll need to go to the hospital for your screening appointment. Once in the exam room, you&rsquo;ll lie on your back on a table with your arms above your head. While you hold your breath (just for a brief time), the CT scanner rotates to take pictures of your lungs.<br />
<br />
Some people worry about the tight spaces of CT scans. It may help to know that your head will be outside of the scanner throughout the scan, and it only takes a few seconds. A healthcare provider called a technician can also see and hear you throughout the scan.<br />
<br />
<strong>Will the radiation hurt me?</strong><br />
During your screen, you are exposed to a small amount of radiation. However, the benefits of finding lung cancer early far outweigh the risks of radiation. The radiation exposure is very small &mdash; less than you receive from background sources in about 6 months.<br />
<br />
<strong>What is the Intermountain Lung Cancer Screening Program?</strong><br />
Intermountain&rsquo;s Lung Cancer Screening Program provides annual CT lung screening and tracks your annual visits and results.<br />
<br />
Once you enroll in the program, you&rsquo;ll receive letters in the mail to remind you when it&rsquo;s time for your next screening. After your screening, you&rsquo;ll receive a letter in the mail with your results. If we do find something abnormal, we&rsquo;ll schedule your follow-up appointments and additional screening. Talk to your doctor for more information about the program.<br />
<br />
<strong>Trying to quit?</strong><br />
The most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer is to quit smoking. Ask your doctor about Intermountain&rsquo;s<br />
Quitting Tobacco: Your Journey to Freedom booklet.<br />
<br />
Programs:<br />
If you need additional support, these programs can help:<br />
&bull; Quit for Life Program, 8 0 0 - QU I T-NOW, 866-784-8454, quitnow.net<br />
&bull;Freedom from Smoking,ffsonline.org<br />
<br />
National organizations:<br />
&bull; American Lung Association (ALA), 800-586-4872 (Lung HelpLine), lung.org/stop-smoking<br />
&bull; American Cancer Society (ACS), 800-227-2345, cancer.org<br />
&bull; American Heart Association (AHA), 800-242-8721, americanheart.org<br />
<br />
More helpful websites:<br />
&bull; <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/" target="_blank">cdc.gov/tobacco</a><br />
&bull; <a href="http://nicotine-anonymous.org/" target="_blank">nicotine-anonymous.org</a><br />
&bull; <a href="http://smokefree.gov/" target="_blank">smokefree.gov</a><br />
&bull; <a href="http://whyquit.com/" target="_blank">whyquit.com</a></p>
<div><br />
</div>
</div>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{D7E55E72-7681-4987-B640-F99982645D73}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/save-lives-not-medication/Save Lives, Not Medication<p>Here is a statistic you may not know: more deaths in Utah are caused by prescription medication overdoes than car crashes. How about this one: Since 2000, deaths due to prescription pain medication overdoses increased by 315%. </p>
<p>These statistics are significant and uncover the reality that prescription medication misuse and abuse is a major problem, especially in Utah. Currently, Utah ranks 5<sup>th</sup> in the nation for drug overdose deaths, and on average 566 Utahns die each year from it. &nbsp;</p>
<p>This misuse and abuse may not look like what you are imagining either. It can be as simple as sharing one pill of your prescribed pain medication with a friend who is not well. It can be your family member taking three pills instead of the prescribed one pill because he or she thinks it will provide more relief. It can be your neighbor who is recovering from a major surgery becoming addicted to his or her medication. </p>
<p>To tackle this problem head on, we joined forces with the state&rsquo;s prevention campaign, <a href="http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/" target="_blank">Use Only As Directed</a>, to educate the public about the risks and warning signs of prescription drug misuse, abuse, and overdose as well as encourage Utahns to safely use, store, and dispose of prescription medication. </p>
<p>To get started, try testing your knowledge of prescription medication use:</p>
<p><strong>TRUE OR FALSE:</strong> It doesn&rsquo;t hurt to take an extra pill from your prescription, or share one with a friend, because a doctor prescribed it. </p>
<p><strong>False:</strong> Doctors provide specific instructions on how to take your medications for a reason. These instructions are tailored to your body&rsquo;s needs. Taking too many or at the wrong time can be dangerous. Also, sharing your medication with someone else is not only a bad idea for the same reasons, but it is also <em>illegal</em> under the Utah Controlled Substances Act. </p>
<p><strong>TRUE OR FALSE:</strong> All medications are safe to use because a doctor prescribed them; the doctor wouldn&rsquo;t prescribe you something that was dangerous. Regardless, they are safer than illegal drugs anyway. &nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>False:</strong> When used as directed by your doctor, prescription drugs provide many benefits. However, if the medication is misused or abused, prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as illicit drugs, especially when they are taken with other drugs or alcohol.</p>
<p><strong>TRUE OR FALSE:</strong> You can&rsquo;t get addicted to prescription painkillers.</p>
<p><strong>False:</strong> Prescription painkillers can be very addictive. </p>
<p>The misuse and abuse of prescription medication can feel like a big problem, but you can take action right now to be safer and smarter. You can learn how to use, store, and dispose of prescription medications in a safer way and then teach your family and friends about it too. Practice and share these three principles for proper use:</p>
<ul>
<li><em>Safe use:</em> Never share prescription medications with others. Remember to use them only as directed, for the specific use prescribed by your doctor. The medication label provides instructions, not suggestions.</li>
<li><em>Safe storage:</em> Always store prescription pain medication out of reach of kids, family, and guests. And, know where your prescription pain medications are at all times. </li>
<li><em>Safe disposal:</em> Take the time to safely dispose of your medications properly. Don't flush them down the toilet or sink, or throw them in the trash. Take them to a permanent collection site. </li>
</ul>
<p>Permanent medication disposal drop boxes are now located at Intermountain Community Pharmacy locations across the state. Use the <a href="http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/drop-off-locator/" target="_blank">Safe Disposal: Drop-Off Locator</a> to find the drop-off locations in your county. </p>
<p><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/safe-use/" target="_blank">http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/safe-use/</a> </p>
<p>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, 2013</p>
<p>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System, 2011-2013&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rx-toolkit-ogden-web.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.useonlyasdirected.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rx-toolkit-ogden-web.pdf</a> </p>Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700{7CDC8228-F79B-4019-8551-C2114F7A9D31}http://10.40.239.129/blogs/2015/02/domestic-violence/Domestic Violence<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence, is defined as abuse between two people in a close relationship. This includes individuals who are dating, and current and former spouses. This type of violence can occur once or multiple times. Domestic violence is categorized into four types of behaviors:&nbsp; Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Threats, and Emotional Abuse. In Utah, between the years 2000-2011, there were 226 domestic violence-related homicides, averaging 19 deaths per year. National data shows that women reported approximately 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes yearly. &nbsp;This is a public health issue that we all need to be concerned about. Because of the damaging consequences of domestic violence, there are a number of organizations focused on helping. Below are resources available to serve those affected by domestic violence.</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233</p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Utah Domestic Violence Link Line 1-800 897- 5465</p>
Utah Domestic Violence Council 801-521-5544Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:00:00 -0700